Browse Popular Categories

International Living Magazine

In International Living’s monthly magazine, you’ll find out about everything from adventures in Panama to the best buys on the Paris property market…from how to open a bank account in your new country of residence to how to get the best deal on your next airfare…and lots more besides.

We’re continually on the move in search of paradise and as a subscriber, you’ll hear about the best opportunities from around the world first.

Free Report

Looking for help finding international real estate? International Living has 30 years of on the ground experience in the countries that we think are the biggest spots under the sun for retiring, investing and buying global real estate right now.

Sign up for International Living's free daily postcard e-letter and receive a free special report: International Living'sInsider Guide to Buying Real Estate Overseas.

Incomes Abroad Newsletter

Incomes Abroad is a monthly newsletter which brings the best money-making ideas and overseas income strategies into one place—so you can find the one that’s right for you, quickly and easily, and use it to fund an international life…

Every month, Incomes Abroad connects you with people who are running thriving enterprises from some of the most desirable places on Earth, and shows you how to take advantage of the same possibilities.

Live Better - for Less - Overseas

No Spam Pledge. We Value Your Privacy

Each day we uncover some of the most desirable -- and cheapest -- retirement havens on earth. Sign up for our free daily Postcard e-letter and we’ll immediately send you a FREE research report to help you find your perfect place to live better, for less, overseas.

When it comes to pampering yourself, there’s nothing quite like a spa. Hot baths, a few massages, fresh air and good food…for me, it’s one of the best ways to relax. So when I had the chance to chill for a few days in Baños, Ecuador, I jumped at the opportunity.

Baños lies tucked in Ecuador’s southern Andes, about three-and-a-half hours from Quito. The drive through the Andes to Baños is spectacular, as is the town’s location. From almost every angle in town you see a backdrop of green mountains ringed in clouds.

Small rivers high in the mountains gush down the slopes in absurdly dramatic waterfalls. The air is fresh and clean. You can practically feel your body relaxing.

The town is a popular destination for Ecuadoreans and foreigners alike, and there’s plenty to do here. Hiking, horseback-riding, canyoning and kayaking, and driving around town in souped-up four-wheel carts are all popular. Boutiques offer massages, facials, and nail care. You can even take a night-time volcano tour of nearby Tungurahua, which erupted in 1999. (Volcanic activity has died down since then, but it’s still active enough to keep the volcano-tour operators in business.)

Baños’ hot springs are its original claim to fame. The waters, heated by Tungurahua, are rich in minerals. There are two public baths in Baños (the price is $2 to $3 per visit, depending on the time), which are open about 18 hours a day. I went to the one in downtown Baños, a five-minute walk from my hotel. It has three pools, all open-air: two thermal pools and a cold pool.

The warm thermal pool is the largest and busiest. By mid-morning the sides of this pool are lined with bathers (come before 7 a.m. if you want it to yourself). The waters are about the temperature of a warm bath, though the minerals give the water a rusty, muddy color that can be off-putting.

The hot thermal pool is only for the brave of heart. The day I was there, only an elderly Japanese gentleman and I could stand the heat. The cold pool also stays fairly empty, for the opposite reason—its spring-fed waters feel absolutely frigid. (I only managed to swim two laps of the cold pool before climbing out, my fingers and toes numb.)

If you want a deluxe experience, there’s Luna Runtun Adventure Spa. Located a few miles outside Baños, the 300-acre Luna Runtun offers luxury spa services and adventure expeditions (for a fee, it will even send a driver to pick you up in Quito or Guayaquil).

For my first visit, though, I wanted the hustle and bustle of central Baños—and its low prices. Baños abounds in simple, comfortable little hotels where a double room with private bath costs about $20 a night (though you can find more expensive places to stay if you want). Restaurants are also inexpensive and good. I ate at a French restaurant one night for about $20, including wine, tax and tip. The next day I had a delicious, filling lunch at a popular Ecuadorean restaurant for a mere $3.

At these prices, a stay in Baños is one of the best spa bargains around. Add in all the other activities and there’s far more to do than you can manage in one trip. In fact, I’m already dreaming of my next visit…

Comments Closed

Free Report & E-letter

Retire Overseas Now

Sign up for our free daily Postcard e-letter and we'll immediately send you a FREE research report on the most desirable -- and cheapest -- retirement havens available to you today.
Each day you'll learn about the best places to retire, travel, buy real estate and enjoy life overseas.

Testimonial

John and Sam Kelley “We got back from two weeks in Uruguay last Sunday. It is a very special place; my wife says that it is the ‘Canada of South America!’ Thank you for your part in steering us there. “We have been IL subscribers for several years. A couple of years ago we […]

Get Social With International Living

Sign Up For Our Free Daily Postcards

Wait – Don’t Miss Out:

7 Great Retirement Towns You’ve Never Heard Of…

In the right places overseas…you have good options for safe, comfortable, affordable living (adventure built-in).

In 7 Great Retirement Towns You’ve Never Heard of Where You Can Live Better for Less we’ll pull back the curtain and introduce you to communities where you can embrace the retirement of your dreams…and do it for less than it would cost you to stay home.

Take a look at International Living today and not only will you receive 7 Great Retirement Towns You’ve Never Heard of…Where You Can Live Better for LessFREE, but I’ll ALSO shave nearly 30% off the regular price.